Fan assembly and air shield apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air shield apparatus includes a bracket and a number of baffles. The bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to the first side plate. The first side plate defines a number of first shaft holes, and the second side plate defines a number of second shaft holes aligning with the first shaft holes. Each baffle includes a blocking piece between the first and second side plates, and two opposite posts protruding out from two opposite ends of the blocking piece. The posts of the baffles are pivotably received in the first shaft holes and the second shaft holes. An inner wall of each shaft hole defines a helical guiding groove. A helical sliding portion winds around each shaft. The sliding portion of each baffle is rotatably received in the corresponding guiding groove of the first and second side plates.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and particularly to afan assembly with an air shield apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices, such as computers, use heat dissipation assembliesfor dissipating heat generated by components therein, thus preventingthe components from overheating. The heat dissipation assembly includesa number of fan assemblies blowing air to dissipate heat generated fromthe electronic devices. Each fan assembly includes a shell, a fanreceived in the shell, and a number of baffles. Two opposite sides ofthe shell define a plurality of shaft holes. Two opposite shaftsprotrude out from two opposite ends of each baffle. The shafts of eachbaffle are rotatably received in the corresponding shaft holes. However,the baffles are easily swayed by air blown by the fans, which causes thebaffles to hit each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments.Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a fanassembly, the fan assembly including two air shield apparatuses.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of one of the air shieldapparatuses of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another perspective.

FIG. 4 is a partial, enlarged, and cutaway view of the air shieldapparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of the air shield apparatus ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1,showing the fan assembly in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, isillustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It shouldbe noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosureare not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “atleast one.”

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fan assembly 100, which includes a shell20, two fans 40, and two air shield apparatuses 60.

The shell 20 includes a front plate 21. The front plate 21 defines twocircular receiving spaces 22 in the shell 20. The fans 40 are receivedin the receiving spaces 22 of the shell 20. An air outlet 212 is definedin the front plate 21 and communicates with each receiving space 22.

FIGS. 2-4 show that each air shield apparatus 60 includes asubstantially rectangular bracket 62, a plurality of baffles 64, and aplurality of connecting members 66.

The bracket 62 includes a first side plate 621 and a second side plate622 opposite to the first side plate 621. The first side plate 621defines a plurality of mounting holes 626 along an inner surface of thebracket 62 and arranged along a lengthwise direction of the first sideplate 621. The second plate 622 defines a plurality of shaft holes 624that align with the mounting holes 66.

Each baffle 64 includes a substantially rectangular blocking piece 642and two posts 644 oppositely protruding out from two opposite ends of atop side of the blocking piece 642. A helical sliding portion 646 windsaround each of the posts 644.

Each connecting member 66 includes a substantially circular positioningportion 664 and a substantially circular latching portion 662 axiallyprotruding from a side of the positioning portion 664. A diameter of thepositioning portion 664 is greater than a diameter of the latchingportion 662. The positioning portion 664 defines a shaft hole 666extending axially through the latching portion 662. An inner wall of theshaft hole 666 defines a helical guiding groove 668, for receiving thehelical sliding portion 646.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that in assembly of each air shield apparatus 60, thelatching portions 662 of the connecting members 66 are latched in themounting holes 626 of the bracket 62. The baffles 64 are placed betweenthe first side plate 621 and the second side plate 622, and the sposts644 are aligned with the shaft holes 666 of the connecting members 66.The posts 644 are rotatably received in the shaft holes 666 of thecorresponding connecting members 66. Thus, the baffles 64 are pivotablyconnected between the first and second side plate 621 and 622, and thesliding portions 646 are rotatably received in the guiding grooves 668of the connecting members 66. A lower portion of the blocking piece 642of an upper baffle 64 overlaps an upper portion of the blocking piece642 of a lower baffle 64, thereby covering the bracket 60.

In assembly of the air shield apparatus 60 to the shell 20, rear sidesof the brackets 62 are mounted on the front plate 21 of the shell 20,thereby allowing the baffles 64 to cover the air outlets 212 of theshell 20.

FIG. 6 shows that in use, as the fans 40 operate, the heated air fromthe fans 40 pushes the baffles 64 to rotate about the posts 644 touncover the air outlets 212. Therefore, heat can be exhausted out of theair outlets 212. During this process, the sliding portion 646 of eachpost 644 is rotated in the corresponding guiding groove 668 of theconnecting member 66. The sliding portions 646 frictionally rotate inthe guiding grooves 668. Therefore, the blocking pieces 642 are slowlyrotated to avoid the baffles 64 from hitting each other.

In another embodiment, the connecting members 66 can be omitted, and theguiding grooves 668 can be directly defined in inner surfaces of thebracket 62.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the embodiment have been set forth inthe foregoing description, together with details of the structure andfunction of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, andchanges may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size,and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosureto the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the termsin which the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air shield apparatus, comprising: a bracketcomprising a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to thefirst side plate, wherein the first side plate defines a plurality offirst shaft holes, and the second side plate defines a plurality ofsecond shaft holes aligning with the corresponding first shaft holes;and a plurality of baffles each comprising a blocking piece placedbetween the first and second side plates and two opposite postsprotruding out from two opposite ends of a top side of the blockingpiece; wherein the posts are pivotably received in the correspondingfirst shaft holes and the corresponding second shaft holes of thebracket, an inner wall bounding each first shaft hole defines a helicalguiding groove, a helical sliding portion protrudes out from one of theposts of each baffle, the sliding portions of the baffles are rotatablyreceived in the guiding grooves of the first side plate.
 2. The airshield apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side plate comprises aplurality of connecting members mounted on an inner side of the firstside plate, the plurality of first shaft holes is defined in theplurality of connecting members.
 3. The air shield apparatus of claim 2,wherein the first side plate defines a plurality of mounting holesaligning with the corresponding second shaft holes of the second sideplate, the plurality of connecting members is latched in thecorresponding mounting holes of the first side plate.
 4. The air shieldapparatus of claim 3, wherein each connecting member comprises alatching portion mounted in the corresponding mounting hole of the firstside plate, and a positioning portion protruding out from an end of thelatching portion, each first shaft hole is axially defined in thecorresponding positioning portion.
 5. A fan assembly, comprising: ashell defining an air outlet; a fan received in the shell and aligningwith the air outlet; and an air shield apparatus comprising a bracketmounted to the shell and a plurality of baffles pivotably mounted to thebracket to cover or uncover the air outlet; wherein the bracketcomprises a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to thefirst side plate, the first side plate defines a plurality of firstshaft holes, the second side plate defines a plurality of second shaftholes aligning with the corresponding first shaft holes of the firstside plate, each baffle comprises a blocking piece placed between thefirst and second side plates and two opposite posts protruding out fromtwo opposite ends of the blocking piece, the posts of the baffles arepivotably received in the first and second shaft holes of the bracket,an inner wall bounding each first shaft hole defines a helical guidinggroove, a helical sliding portion protrudes out from one of the posts ofeach baffle, the sliding portion of each baffle is rotatably received inthe corresponding guiding groove of the first side plate.
 6. The fanassembly of claim 5, wherein the first side plate comprises a pluralityof connecting members mounted to an inner side of the first side plate,the plurality of first shaft holes is defined in the connecting members.7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the first side plate defines aplurality of mounting holes aligning with the corresponding second shaftholes of the second side plate, the plurality of connecting members islatched in the corresponding mounting holes of the first side plate. 8.The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein each connecting member comprises alatching portion mounted in the corresponding mounting hole of the firstside plate and a positioning portion protruding out from an end of thelatching portion, each first shaft hole is axially defined in thecorresponding positioning portion.